I’m trying to catch up with all the things that have been going on the last few days.  But a little about the weekend.

Friday morning, bright and early (up at 4:15 am) to catch my flight, but it turned out not to be a Delta flight, but Continental.  Only I didn’t know that until I’d gone through the labyrinthine line up to the check-in counter, where my Confirmation numbers didn’t work.  Finally got a human who said, “Oh, gee, you need to go to the next terminal.”  So I hightail it.  To find a line just as long as the previous line.  Getting a little nervous now with the time, but a representative says “Last call for the LA to Houston flight” and my hand flies in the air, “That’s me!” and they put me right up with a representative.  I’m apologizing, having had the wrong information, they process me, print out my tickets and I head for the next loooong line to go through security.  I’m standing in front of a security officer who may have seen that I was just getting my ticket, and I babble something, she reads the ticket and lets me in.  I made the flight. 

On board, there was this little bitty bowl of cereal offered.  Breakfast.  In Houston, I had 40 minutes to make the next flight, which was a few terminals away, not bad with the TerminaLink train, only the train was a ten minute walk.  Got there, they’re about to board, no food for Dave.  We landed in Mobile, I grabbed the one cab that was waiting and got downtown in time to sign 200 copies of the novel.  Then a brief respite before the cocktail party (I hadn’t eaten since the cereal, so I did not drink), where I met the most charming people, independent booksellers and more.  It was a grand time.  The microphone was a little iffy — only the second half of my talk was heard by those in the back — so I can safely say to you right now that I have NEVER given my speech better!  No one can contradict me. 

Went out to dinner with the gang, Allison, Maryann, Amy and Kirstin.  Felix’s.  Delicious.  Finally got some food in me.  Ahhhh. 

The next day was a visit to Fairhope and the bookstore Page and Palette.  A truly charming place on South Section Street, stop on by and say hi to Jennifer.  Then on to the airport — there were no planes there when I got there.  The flight landed soon after, off to Atlanta (we’re going the wrong way, people).  Another close scramble to the plane, and hey, it looks like we’re going to get away early, non-stop to Los Angeles, maybe home before my wife has gone to sleep. 

The captain comes on the PA system.  “Uh, folks.  There’s an aircraft stuck in Memphis with 250 people waiting to get to LA, and we’re going to make a quick little stop there.”  I’m thinking, What, are we the only plane with JUMPER CABLES?  Are we picking up passengers?  Do I have a choice here?  Turns out, we had to drop off a part so they could get on their way. 

I did get home late, and finally found my way to my bed at midnight… two minutes later (no exaggeration) my son came running in, “Dad, my stomach hurts, I think I’m going to throw up.” 

My wife hadn’t woken up when I came in and she didn’t wake up now.  So I sat with my buddy until his stomach felt better.  Thinking about the West Hollywood Book Fair panel that was going to happen the next day.

To be continued…

And so I am back, and will have much to report on a busy, fun weekend.  Suffice it to say that Allison McGeehon was a godsend, introducing me to the terrific independent booksellers, Maryann McFadden was my excellent companion to Fairhope, Alabama and Page and Palette bookstore, and Amy Dickenson was hilarious and great fun (and I scored a hat promoting Amy’s new book, to bring home to my wife — she wore it on our walk this morning).  More details to come, but right now I have to go try to get the old vanity out of the wall in the bathroom so I can put in the new one.  Back soon.

At 3 pm today, at the West Hollywood Book Fair near the Pacific Design Center, I will be on a panel “Beginnings: Writing the First Novel.”  At 4 pm, I will be signing copies of SWEETSMOKE at the Book Soup Booth.  Love to see you. 

I’m in Mobile, Alabama tonight at the Marriott, Page and Palette tomorrow to sign books at 1 pm. 

I, Dave Fuller, will be in Mobile, AL tomorrow night for the Hyperion Cocktail Party at the Marriott Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel.  Amy Dickinson of “Ask Amy” will be there along with Maryann McFadden, of The Richest Season.   The next day you can find me at Page And Palette Bookstore for a signing. 

Sunday will find me back in Los Angeles for the West Hollywood Book Fair, 3 pm, in the Fiction Pavilion.  I will be on a panel discussing Beginnings: Writing the First Novel.  Moderated by Amy Wallen, this panel includes Peter Balsakas, Natasha Bauman and Selden Edwards.  At 4, I will sign at the Book Soup booth. 

Did you hear me?  I was on Dr. Alvin Augustus Jones’s show on WCBQ this morning (6:30 am my time), being interviewed about Sweetsmoke.  I must tell you, I just love Dr. Jones.  He brings out the best in an interviewee.  I sincerely hope to meet him one day.  I did notice something interesting.  He’s so much more calm and assured on the radio than I am.  Seems like he’s had a LOT more experience! 

Thank you, Dr. Jones, for hosting me on your show. 

I will be at the Southern Independent Booksellers’ Association in Mobile, Alabama this Friday and Saturday.  Saturday afternoon, you can find me at Page and Palette in Fairhope, Alabama, doing a signing. 

Sunday you can find me back in Los Angeles at the West Hollywood Book Fair, at 3 pm for a panel discussion, at West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente.  I’ll be signing Sweetsmoke copies from 4 to 5 at the Book Soup booth. 

Come on by! 

“Fuller works hard to give us a mid-19th-century world that feels authentic, from small details (Cassius uses Lucifer friction matches to light his cigars) to the larger sprawl of the plantation … Some of the novel’s most effective scenes are based in strong action, from the vicious hobbling of a captured runaway slave to Cassius’ sojourn in a safe house on the Underground Railroad … captivating.”

–The New York Times Book Review

Lauri and Dennis Crane hosted a mammoth book group, consisting of an incredible array of intelligent voices.  Beside me sat the fabled Deborah Schneider, who also spoke about the SWEETSMOKE journey.  A splendid time was had by me.  I can’t vouch for others, although I will say that it seemed to me that others had an enjoyable evening as well.  But no one could have had better. 

Then this morning, the KPCC event, watching the elegant Bill Davis host, as Patt Morrison interviewed Ken Rudin and then Larry Mantle, celebrating his 25th year at the station.  We were delighted to encounter our dear friends (from high school) Roberta and John Preskill.  Afterwards we went back to fetch our sons at the car wash going on at the local elementary school.  Soaked to the skin were they, and one came home to a hot bath while the other stayed on.  The young female population seemed not to mind.  Hopefully he will not read this…

This evening I will be visiting two book groups, actually one visit but a combination of two book groups.  Lauri Crane has gone above and beyond even extraordinary efforts to put this together, and I am so grateful to her.  It’s a big group, and I’m bringing my agent, Deborah Schneider, along.  That’s in case anyone gets rowdy.  She’ll know what to do.